The BMD-3 "Bakhcha" (Boyevaya Mashina
Desanta , Russian "Боевая Машина Десанта", literally "Combat
Vehicle of the Airborne") is a light infantry fighting vehicle
originating in the Soviet Union that is fully amphibious and air-droppable with
crew inside. It is intended to be a fire-support platform for use
by airborne
and air assault
units. It is not an upgraded BMD-1 but a completely redesigned vehicle with a
hydropneumatic suspension,
new hull, a more powerful 2V-06-2 diesel engine and fitted with the
complete turret of the BMP-2.

The BMD-3 was introduced in the last year before the fall of the
Soviet Union.
About 1,000 BMD-3 and BMD-4 are in service with armed forces of the
Russian Federation, and 500 BTR-MD and 57
2S25 have been ordered.

Variants

BMD-3 (Ob'yekt 950) - Basic type, as
described.

BMD-4 (Ob'yekt 960) - Modified chassis with
new turret "Bakhcha-U" comprising: 100mm main gun 2A70, 30mm autocannon 2A72, 7.62mm
machine gun, and new fire control system "Ramka". The bow-mounted
AGS-17 has been removed. The armament is similar to the one of the
BMP-3. BMD-4's are new-build or
upgraded BMD-3's. The prototype was known as
BMD-3M. Photos

RKhM-5 (Ob'yekt 958) - Chemical reconnaissance
vehicle, fitted with the same specialised equipment as the BTR-80 version RKhM-4. The turret
has been removed; the RKhM-5 has a fixed superstructure with
machine gun turret.

BTR-MD “Rakushka” (Ob'yekt 955) - Multi-role
transport vehicle with bigger hull and no turret. This type can be
used to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and wounded personnel.
It also serves as the basis for a new range of specialised vehicles
for the Russian airborne forces, including a mortar platform, an
ambulance BMM-D, a command post vehicle and a
recovery vehicle. Some of the variants will have a longer chassis
with 7 road wheels and probably the same 510hp engine as the
2S25.

2S25
"Sprut-SD (Ob'yekt 952) - Self-propelled anti-tank
gun, armed with a 125mm gun 2A75 that has similar ballistics as the
main gun of the 2A46 series and can also fire the ATGM 9M119 "Svir". The chassis
has 7 instead of 5 road wheels on each side and the engine is now
the 2V-06-2S of 510 hp. The 2S25 has a combat weight of 18 tonnes
and a crew of 3. It entered service in 2007. Photos